Floor and ceiling support



June 22, 1937. v H. E. MARKS 2,084,853

FLOOR AND CEILING SUPPORT Filed April 15, 1935 INVENTOR.

w 7 BY M' mw' W I r ATTORNEYS.

Patenter June 22, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 11 Claims.

This invention relates to floor and ceiling supports, and more particularly to those composed of metal channel members.

The use of metal channel members for supporting floors and ceilings is desirable, but they are not used as much as they should be because of certain difficulties encountered. One of these is that in order to fasten plaster board, wooden flooring or the like to the channels it is necessary to provide special fastening members for engaging the channels in some special manner, which adds to the time and expense of making floors and ceilings. Another difliculty is that unless the metal of which the channels are made is of relatively heavy gauge, the webs of the channels may sag or buckle under the weight of the floor. If the strength of the channels is increased so that they will support the necessary load without sagging, the weight of the channels is correspondingly increased. This means not only that the cost of manufacturing the channels is raised, but also that the supporting structure for the channels must be strong and heavy enough to support their great weight, thereby increasing the cost and weight of the entire building.

It is an object of this invention to provide a floor and ceiling supporting structure formed of metal channels to which plaster board, wooden flooring or the like is quickly and easily attached by ordinary fastening members such as nails. Another object is to provide a supporting structure of this type in which sets of channels are preconnected to form structural units. Further objects are to provide such a structure in which the channels are relatively light in weight, are rigid under heavy load, and are readily connected at the building site.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which Fig. l is a fragmentary plan view of floor-supporting channels; Fig. 2 an enlarged end view of the channels showing flooring laid on some of them and ceiling board supported by others; Fig. 3 a vertical section through adjoining channels enlarged to show more clearly the manner of connecting the units and of fastening a board thereto; Fig. 4 a view taken on the line IV-IV of Fig. 3; Fig. 5 an end view of unassembled channels and. showing them provided with reinforcing members; Fig. 6 a fragmentary plan view of a modified embodiment of the invention; and Fig. 7 an end view of the embodiment shown in Fig. 6 with the structural units unassembled.

Referring to the drawing, a supporting structure, used for supporting floors or floors and ceilings, is formed of a plurality of metal channel members I disposed side by side and supported in any suitable manner by the usual beams, not shown. The side flanges 2 and 3 of adjoining channels engage each other, whereby the webs 4 form a substantially unbroken horizontal fioorsupporting surface. In order to make the channels as light as possible so that they will be less expensive to manufacture, easier to handle, and will not require exceptionally heavy supporting structure, they are formed from relatively thin metal sheets. However, if these light-weight channels were made the same as ordinary channels they might not be strong enough to resist sagging or buckling under the weight of floors and ceilings. According to this invention the channels, even though much lighter in weight than channels of the same size used heretofore, are preferably rendered strong and rigid by corrugating them transversely throughout their length from one edge of each channel to the other. The corrugations are thereby formed in the side flanges of each channel as well as in the web.

A further advantage derived from corrugating the channels appears when the channels are set in place on the beams that support them with side flanges 3 in contact with each other. In this position only the outer corrugations of adjoining flanges are in engagement, whereby a series of narrow openings 6 is formed between the inner corrugations extending from top to bottom of the channels. On account of the presence of these openings between adjoining channels, flooring members i laid on the channel webs can be nailed down to the channels as easily as to wooden beams, because nails 8 are driven into openings 6 where they are wedged in place between the side flanges. If the nails are long enough they are clinched in place by bending their ends back against the channels, as shown in Fig. 3.

If it is desired to form a ceiling against the bottoms of side flanges 2 and 3, it can readily be done, as shown in Fig. 2, by nailing plaster board 9, wood lathing or the like directly to the channels as in the case of flooring. That is, the nails H that connect the plaster board to the channels are driven upwardly through openings Band their upper ends are clinched between the corrugations of webs 4. The bottoms of flanges 3 are bent inwardly at right angles to form narrow horizontal flanges l2 that strengthen the vertical flanges 3 and form a backing for ceiling board 9. The inturned flanges are also adapted to be engaged by'clips when it is desired to fasten ceiling board to them in that manner.

To facilitate handling and laying of the channels they are preferably pre-connected in sets which are handled as structural units, thereby reducing the number of channels that must be handled individually, and assuring the formation of a floor support in which at least most of the channels are rigidly connected. The drawing shows structural units each made up of four channels, but a greater or lesser number of channels could be used, depending on their size and the place in which they are to be used. The channels of each unit are joined together by rigidly connecting their flanges 3 in any suitable manner, such as by spot welding. It is unnecessary to provide for welding the.various structural units together after they have been laid on their supporting beams, because they are so formed that adjoining units are locked together by merely setting them in place.

One way of doing this is shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 5 where there is connected to the outermost flange .3 of each unit a plate l3 that is bent to form a shallow trough l4 extending along the outer face of the side flange at its lower edge. The plate is provided with corrugations that coincide with and fit in the corrugations of the side flange to which they are connected as by spot welding (Fig, 4). Vertical flange 2, at the opposite side of each unit, is slightly narrower than flanges 3 so that its narrow horizontal flange I6 is able to rest on plate l3 in its trough M. The free vertical flange of plate I3 is preferably extended above flange l6 and provided with spaced vertical slits that form tongues I1 which are bent over flange 16, whereby the channel to which plate I3 is attached can not move downwardly relative to flange l6. Thus, when the units are set in place they are locked together against lateral and vertical movements without requiring welding, riveting, bolting or the like.

In Fig. 5 there is also shown the use of reinforcing members ill for further strengthening the structural units. These members are in the form of very shallow channels with their side flanges bolted, riveted or otherwise fastened to the side flanges of the main channels. Channels l8 tie the side flanges of the main channels together so as to prevent them from spreading under extreme load. They also form the main channels into hollow conduits in which pipes and wire can be housed. A further advantage is that the structural units can be used upside down if thatshould happen to be desirable.

The embodiment shown in Figs. 6 and '7 is for use where the supporting cross beams are fairly close together, where the metal of which the channels are made is of heavy enough gauge to insure the channels against sagging or otherwise bending, or where it is desired to pass pipes or circulateairtransversely of the channels beneath the floor. .These channels are not corrugated, but to provide an open space between the side flanges 2| of adjoining channels 22 for the reception of nails, thin spacer plates 23 are inserted between the side flanges at intervals where they are held in place by riveting, welding or the like. Preferably the side flanges are narrow and similar shallow channels 24 are united to the opposite ends of the spacer plates by which channels 24 are spaced from channels 22. The side flanges of lower channels 24 are turned inwardly, as at 25, to provide backing for ceiling boards or supports for clips. Flooring or ceiling members are then nailed to the channels the same as when the channels are corrugated, the nails being driven into the spaces between the channels where they are wedged in place.

This construction gives a floor supporting structure which is open both longitudinally and transversely for the laying of pipes and wires or the circulation of air. It also gives a structure which is strong but not excessively heavy even though the channels are made of thicker metal sheets than would be necessary if they were corrugated.

Another way of locking the structural units together is also shown in Fig. 7, although it could be used with the corrugated channels shown. The central longitudinal portion of a plate 26 is bent outwardly to form spaced upper and lower shelves 21, the verticalflanges 28 of the plate being rigidly attached to the side flanges 2| at one side of a unit. A plate 29, similar to plate 26, is rigidly connected to the adjacent sideflanges of the adjoining uzfii in such a manner that the vertical flanges 3| are spaced from the unit so that the entire plate will telescope over the laterally projecting portion of plate 26. When thus connected, neither unit can move vertically relative to the other. The spacer plates are not used along the sides of the units to which plates 26 and 29 are attached.

A floor-supporting structure formed in accordance with this invention is strong, though light in weight, and is easy to handle and lay in place. Another advantage is that flooring and ceiling .members can be nailed to it in the customary manner without the provision of special fastening means, and without loss of time.

According to the provisions of the patent statutes, I have explained the principle and construction of my invention and have illustrated and described what I now consider to represent its best embodiment. However, I desire to have it understood that, within the scope of the appended-claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically illustrated and described.

' I claim:

1. A floor and ceiling supporting structure comprising a plurality of metal channel members disposed side by side with their side flanges substantially in engagement, said side flanges being corrugated transversely to provide vertical openings between adjacent side flanges for the reception offastening members by which floor and ceiling members are attached to the channels. I

2. A floor and ceiling supporting structure comprising a. plurality of metal channels disposed side by side with their side flanges connected, there being openings between the side flanges for the reception of fastening members by which floor and ceiling members are attached tothe channels, and a shallow channel member disposed between the outer edge portions of the side flanges of each of said metal channels and rigidly connected thereto.

3. A floor and ceiling supporting structure comprising a plurality of metal channel members disposed side by side with their side flanges in engagement, said channels being provided with corrugations extending transversely thereof in their webs and side flanges to thereby impart rigidity to the channels and to provide vertical openings between adjoining side flanges for the reception of fastening members by which floor and ceiling members are attached to the channels.

4. A floor and ceiling supporting structure comprising a plurality of metal channel members disposed side by side with their side flanges in engagement, said channels being provided with corrugations extending transversely thereof in their webs and side flangesto thereby impart rigidity to the channels and to provide vertical openings between adjoining side flanges for the reception of fastening members by which floor and ceiling members are attached to the channels, and the bottoms of said side flanges being bent inwardly substantially at right angles to impart further rigidity to the flanges and to form a backing for said ceiling members.

5. A floor and ceiling supporting structure formed from a plurality of structural units, each of said units comprising a plurality of metal channels disposed side by side with their side flanges rigidly connected, said channels being provided with corrugations extending transversely thereof in their webs and side flanges to thereby impart rigidity to the channels and to provide vertical openings between adjoining side flanges, the bottom of the flanges at one side of said unit being bent inwardly, and a member connected to the adjacent flange of .the adjoining unit for receiving said inwardly bent flange portion and holding it against lateral movement, whereby the units are locked together.

6. A floor and ceiling supporting structure formed from a plurality of structural units, each of said units comprising a plurality of metal channels disposed side byside with their side flanges rigidly connected, said channels being provided with corrugations extending transversely thereof in'their webs and side flanges to thereby impart rigidity to the channels and to provide vertical openings between adjoining side flanges, the bottom of the flange at one side of 4 said unit .being bentinwardly, anda'plate connected to the adjacent flange of the adjoining unit and having its lower portion bent outwardly and upwardly to form a trough for receiving said inwardly bent flange portion, whereby the units are locked together.

'7. A floor and ceiling supporting structure formed from a plurality of structural units, each of said units comprising a plurality of metal channels disposed side by side with their side flanges rigidly connected, said channels being.

provided with corrugations extending transversely thereof in their webs and side flanges to thereby impart rigidity to the channels and to provide vertical openings between adjoining side flanges, the bottom of the flange at one side of i said unit being bent inwardly, and a plate connected to the adjacent flange of the adjoining unitand having its lower portion bent outwardly and upwardly to form a trough for receiving the said inwardly bent flange portion, the upwardly bent portion of said plate being slit vertically to provide tongues for bending over said inwardly bent flange portion, whereby the units are locked together.

- 8. A floor and ceiling supporting structure formed from a plurality of structural units, each of said units comprising a plurality of metal channels disposed side by side with their side flanges connected, there being openings between the side flanges for the reception of fastening members, separate means attached to and ex-' tending, longitudinally of the outer face of a side flange at one side of said unit and projecting laterally therefrom, and separate means attached to the adjacent flange of the adjoining unit and projecting laterally outward therefrom for overlying and underlying said laterallyprojecting means in engagement therewith, whereby the units are held against relative vertical movements.

9. A floor and ceiling supporting structure comprising a plurality of metal channels disposed ,side by side, a plurality of spacing plates disposed at spaced intervals between adjacent channels and rigidly connected thereto to provide vertical openings between the channels for the reception of fastening elements by which floor and ceiling members are attached to the channels, each of said plates extending from top to bottom of the channels whereby the channels are reinforced.

10. A floor and ceiling supporting structure formed from a plurality of structural units, each of said units comprising a plurality of metal channels disposed side by side, a plurality of spacing members disposed at spaced intervals between adjacent channels and rigidly connected thereto to provide vertical openings between the channels for the reception of fastening members, separate means attached to and extending longitudinally of the outer face of one side of said unit and projecting laterally therefrom, and separate means attached to the adjacent side of the adjoining unit and projecting laterally outward therefrom for overlying and underlying said laterally-projecting means in engagement therewith, whereby the units are held against relative vertical movements.

11. A floor and ceiling supporting structure comprising a plurality of metal channels disposed side by side, a plurality of metal channels disposed side by side and vertically spaced from said first-mentioned channels, and a plurality of elongate spacing members disposed at horizontally spaced intervals between adjacent channels and rigidly connected thereto for spacing channels apart both horizontally and vertically.

HERBERT E. MARKS. 

